FRIM to have own its board, says Wan Junaidi
The Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM) will have its own board following the passing of the FRIM Act 2016, says Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar.
The board would be chaired by Natural Resources and Environment secretary-general Datuk Seri Azizan Ahmad and have 13 members including Malaysian Timber Industry Board director-general Dr Jalaluddin Harun, Treasury officer Imri Dolhadi Ab Wahab and Forestry Department director-general Datuk Prof Dr Abd Rahman Abd Rahim.
Dr Wan Junaidi said a management board could help shape FRIM’s development agenda.
“I hope the members elected will ensure FRIM stays relevant as a research institute and make it less dependent on Government for support,” he said after launching the FRIM Act in conjunction with the 31st FRIM anniversary celebration here yesterday.
The FRIM Act 2016 was gazetted Sept 30 and came into force on Oct 1.
Dr Wan Junaidi said the Act allowed FRIM to become independent and to commercialise the results of its research and development.
It can also form a company to generate its own income to ensure the survival of its services, research activities, development and commercialisation.
“Such efforts are expected to help FRIM to reduce dependency on government funding and achieve self-sufficiency within a period of five years,” he added.
Dr Wan Junaidi said FRIM’s intellectual property rights would be better protected under the Act, ensuring that the agency reaped the rewards of its research.
He said many products of their research – from skin beauty, anti-diabetic drinks, bamboo flooring and environmental-friendly floor cleaners – had great commercial value.
“However, FRIM must not forget that its role is to preserve the forest and its bio-diversity,” he added.
The FRIM Act also empowers the institute to run training courses, collaborate with universities both local and international, and form testing and certification bodies for forestry products.
FRIM director-general Datuk Dr Abd Latif Mohmod was reported as saying the institute received only RM80,000 last year in patent royalty payments while companies that use their products and technology earned millions in sales.